The Ministry of Health makes arrangements not only to take care of the general medical needs of millions of pilgrims but also of those who fall seriously sick during the pilgrimage and hence not able to perform Haj on their own, said Dr. Mohammed Bajuri, a doctor at Jabal Al-Rahma General Hospital.
He said special arrangements are made for such patients to ensure that they perform the rites. “Our team of dedicated doctors and paramedics bring them to Arafat in ambulances for the standing of Arafat, which is he most important ritual of Haj,” Bajuri said.
“We received four such patients at Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital from Madinah Friday night. They have been put under medical care and at the same time they are being assisted in religious rituals,” Bajuri said.
Patients are also brought and admitted to different hospitals and clinics in Arafat. Some of the sick patients are brought from Mina and Makkah hospitals to Arafat in the ambulances.
Bajuri said the facilities improve every year. “We learn from our experiences and give our feedback to our superiors.”
Talking about the type of cases they receive, the doctor said: “Mostly patients complain about respiratory tract infections, general rashes in foot, hypertension, diarrhea, accident injuries and some cases of cardiac problems. Most of the patients are given antibiotics and painkillers and are subsequently released but in cases of hypertension and cardiac problems, we admit the patients depending upon their condition.”
The Jabal Al-Rahma Hospital received 100 patients in eight to 10 hours and none of them needed to be admitted, he said.
Serving the guests of Allah represents more than just professional obligations for the personnel serving during Haj, he said. “This is my fifth year of deputation to Arafat and I wait for this day anxiously,” he said.
Some of the patients told Arab News that arrangements at the hospital were good.
“I came to the hospital after suffering bruises from a fall during my trek from Mina. I was examined, wounds cleaned and medicines were given, all free of cost. Everything was also very quick,” said Adnan Mohammad, an Egyptian pilgrim.
Fatima Rasool from Pakistan expressed similar sentiments, except that she faced difficulties explaining her illness due to the language barrier. “They called a Pakistani doctor who heard me patiently and then I was taken care of properly,” Fatima said.
The Health Ministry has 80 primary health care centers in Arafat, Mina and Muzdalifah.
“We have updated the facilities at these PHCs and now they are ready for operation,” said Ahmed Al-Baiz, head of operations and maintenance of the health care centers in the holy cities.
The centers include 28 in Mina, 46 in Arafat and six in Muzdalifah. Besides these clinics, he said, there are seven major hospitals — three in Arafat and four in Mina.
